Happy New Year’s everyone! The library is closed today for New Year’s Day observed, but will reopen tomorrow at our regular time.

Christian novelist Janette Oke has been publishing inspirational fiction since the late 1970s, a staple on many a bookshelf. Perhaps one of her most famous series is known by the first book’s title: When Calls the Heart. Set on the Canadian prairie in the heyday of western settlement in the late 19th century, this story follows Elizabeth Thatcher, high society woman turned frontier school teacher in the tiny town of Coal Valley. Life for Elizabeth becomes quite an adjustment, and when most of the men in town are killed in a mining accident the newly widowed women find their faith tested as they go to work themselves just to keep a roof over their head. Elizabeth perseveres, however, charming most everyone except Constable Jack Thornton of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Jack believes Elizabeth’s father has purposefully stationed him in the frontier prairie town just to protect Elizabeth.

The first book in the series was published in 1979, but now has been made into a TV series starring Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, and Daniel Lissing. The library has the first three seasons, originally seen on the Hallmark Channel. The TV series doesn’t follow the storyline of the books too closely, but fans of the original book series will still like a new take on a familiar setting and characters. You can get the DVD reviewed here, which was When Calls the Heart, seasons 1-3 on DVD, and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”